Method of operating electric motors.



B. G. LAMME. METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC MOTORS. Arrn'wu'lon mum mm, 1004. nnnnwzn now. no, 1908.

Patented July 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

-|NVENTOR B. G. LAMME. METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC MOTORS. APPLIUA'HOH FILED IA"! 3, 1904. RENEWED 001. 20, 1908. 9 4, 5 I Patented July 19, 1910.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR m a 6M 7 ATTOR'NEY,

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UNITED STAT E S PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN G. LAIVIME, OF PITTSB'UBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC MOTORS.

Application filed May 3, 1904, Serial No. 206,184. Renewed October 20, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Serial No. 458,724.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. LAMME, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Operating Electric Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to methods of operating electric motors and particularly to methods of operating motors of the commutator type of construction which may be driven by means of either alternating or direct currents.

My invention has for its object to provide a method for the operation of motors of the above description such that either alter-nae ing or direct current energy may be conveniently supplied thereto and economically and efficiently utilized.

If the proper alterations are made in the design and construction of electric motors having commutators and which have ordinarily been operated by means of direct current energy, such motors may also be operated efficiently and satisfactorily by means of alternating current energy, and in many cases it has become quite desirable to so construct the motors and arrange their connections with the controlling devices that they may be operated by means of either alternating or direct current energy.

Four motors are ordinarily employed on a car when the amount of power required for its operation is large, and it has been found most expedient to construct such motors for normal operation on 250 volts, two motors being connected in series between five hundred volt mains.

In certain cases, the controlling apparatus may be exactly the same, whether operating on alternating or direct current, and it is evident that a series-parallel method of control may be employed; that is, the motors may be connected all in series for starting and low speed running conditions and in series-parallel relation to each other for the higher speeds. One disadvantage, however, of operating alternating current motors by means of this series-parallel method of con trol, as usually practiced, lies in the fact that each two hundred and fifty volt motor has only one hundred and twenty-five volts applied to its terminals, when required to give full loadtorque at practically zero speed. If a series-parallel method of oper ation is used when operating on alternating currents, it becomes necessary to pass into magnet windings, so that if these windings are connected in series-parallel or in parallel relation to each other and the armature windings are connected in series, the voltage absorbed by the field magnet windings will be reduced when starting and some benefit is derived from the series connection of the armatures. In this manner the ratio of the armature strength to the field strength is increased, which is an economical and desirable condition for starting. As this ratio is increased, greater armature current is required for a given torque than is required when the field magnet windings are connected all in series, but the current is less than is required if it is necessary to pass to a series-parallel connection of the motors in order to obtain the desired starting torque. This arrangement, therefore, provides economical starting conditions and also permits of running at low speeds with the armatures connected all in series. It has also been found desirable in practice to provide means for altering the ratio of field ampere turns to armature'ampere turns when changing from one character of energy to the other so that the ratio may be greater when operating by direct current than when operating by alternating current. In Patent NO. 7%,362, granted to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, upon an application filed by me, is claimed both generically and specifically, a means for eifecting this result.

My present invention constitutes a method of effecting the desired alteration in the ratio of ampere turns that is not dependent upon the use of any particular means.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system comprising suitable controlling devices for the motors. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating the conditions of the circuits corresponding to the various positions of the controller shown in Fig. 1. Fig. (3 is a diagrammatic view of another system con'lprising suitable controlling apparatus for the motors. Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the conditions of the circuits correspondii'ig to the various positions of the controller shown in Fig. (3. Figs. 11. and 12 are diagrams illustrating modifications of the methods illustrated in the preceding figures.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it is seen that alternating current energy is supplied from a suitable source 1 to line conductors 2 and 3 and direct current energy from a suitable source st to line conductors 5 and (3. One terminal of a main transformer winding 7 is connected to line conductor 3 and the other terminal to terminal 8 of a switch 9 provided for the purpose of changing the kind of energy supplied to the pairs of motors 11 and 12 from alternating to direct current. One terminal of a secondary winding 13 of a series transformer 14, having a primary winding 15, is connected with a point 16 in the winding 7 that is intermediate the terminals thereof, and the other terminal is connected to terminal 17 of the switch 9 and to terminal 18 of a reversing switch 19. The terminals of the primary winding 15 are connected respectively to terminals 20 of the reversing switch 19, and terminal 21 is connected to an arm 22 which is adapted to engage respectively with contact terminals 22 which are connected to suitable points in the winding 7. This portion of the apparatus provides suitable means for varying the voltage supplied to the motors when operating on alternating current, the speed being varied by properly manipulating the reversing switch 19 and the arm 22.

Means for varying the speed of the motors when operating on direct currentmay be a suitable rheostat 23 comprising a subdivided resistance element 24 connected to the line conduct-or 5 and a suitable arm 25, which is adapted to make contact with terminals 26 connected at various points to the resistance 24. The arm 25 is connected to terminal 27 of the switch 9, and terminals 28, 29 and 30 of the switch 9 are connected respectively to line conductors 6 and 2 and contact finger 31 of controller 32. Terminal 29 of the switch 9 is also connected to con tact finger 33 of the controller 32.

If switch 9 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, alternating current en ergy is supplied to the controller 32, but if the switch is in position to connect terminals 29 and 30 respectively with terminals 28 and 27, direct current is supplied to the controller 32. This switch may be operated manually or it may be operated automatically by suitable devices when a change is made from alternating current to direct current or vice versa; that is, the system may be so organized that a change of supply of energy from alternating to direct current will operate the switch 9 auton'iatically without the attention of the operator.

The controller 32 represents a suitable device for adjusting the connections of the field and armature windings with reference to each other, the conducting strips or ments to the left of the contact fingers being provided for the purpose of adjusting the connections of the field magnet and armature windings when operating on alter nating current and the strips or segi'nents shown to the right of the contact fingers 31 being for the purpose of adjusting the connections of the field magnet and armature windings when operating on direct current, the said strips to the right and to the left being adapted to engage properly with the contact fingers.

If it is desired to operate the motors by means of alternating current energy, the switch 9 should occupy the position shown in full lines and the controller should be moved to the position a, in which position the field magnet windings are connected two in series and two in parallel and the armature windings all in series, as shown in Fig. 2, these connections being for starting conditions and lower speeds. The speed of the motors may then be varied by varying the voltage supplied thereto by means of the reversing switch 19 and the arm 22, up to approximately half speed. In the position b of the controller, the field magnet windings are still connected in the series-parallel relation to each other, but the relations of the armature windings are changed from the series connection to a series-parallel connection, as shown in Fig. 3, and the motors may then be brought up to full speed.

If it is desired to operate the motors by means of direct current energy, the switch 9 is thrown so as to connect the terminals 29 and 30 respectively with the terminals 28 and 27 and the controller 32 is moved to the position 0 for starting conditions of the motors, and the field magnet and armature windings are then connected all in series, as indicated in Fig. 4. The speed of the motors may then be varied by the operation of the arm 25 of the rheostat 23. The motors may be connected in the ordinary series-parallel relation to each other, as indicated in Fig. 5, by the movement of the controller to position d and they may then be brought to full running speed by gradually cutting the re sistance 24 out of the circuit.

The controller in the system shown in Fig. 6 is adapted to connect the field magnet and armature windings in slightly different relations to each other from those shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. In this figure, terminal 29 of the switch 9 and contact finger 33 are respectively connected to terminals 35 and 36 of a switch 87 provided for the purpose of connecting the armature windings of the motors in series or in series-parallel relations to each other, as desired. If the switch 37 is in the position shown, current will fiow from the finger 33 to switch terminal 36, and thence in two parallel paths to conductor 38, one path being through blade 39, terminal 40, crossconductor 41, terminal 42 and armatures 12 and the other path being through armatures 11, switch terminal 43, blade 44; and terminal 35. If the switch 37 is in its other closed position, the circuit from finger 33 is through terminal 36, armatures 11, terminal 43, blade l4, terminal 4:2 and armature 12. It will therefore be seen that when the switch 37 is in the position shown the armatures will be con nected in series-parallel relation, and when it is in its other closed position the armat-ures will be connected in series relation.

If it is desired to operate the motors by means of alternating current energy, the Switch 9 will occupy the position shown, the switch 37 its closed position opposite that shown, and the controller 32 will be moved to position a, the field magnet windings of the motors being then connected in parallel and the armature windings in series, as shown in Fig. 7. The speed of the motors may then be varied, up to approximately half speed, by the operation of the reversing switch 19 and the arm 22. In order to bring the motors up to full speed, the controller will be moved to position Z), the switch 37 to the position shown, and the voltage varied as before, the field magnet windings and also the armature windings being then connected in series-parallel relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 8.

The operation of the motors by means of direct current energy may be exactly the same as that described in connection with Fig. l, the connections of the field magnet and armature windings being shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In order to secure these connections of the motors, it is necessary to turn the movable member of the switch 9 into engagement with the contact terminals 27 and 28, the movable member of the switch 37 to the position opposite that shown, and the controller to the position 0 for starting conditions, such as are shown in Fig. 9; and the switch 37 to the position shown, and the controller to position 03 for running conditions such as are shown in Fig. 10. It may be desirable, however, to connect the field magnet and armature windings for starting and running conditions of the motors as shown respectively by Figs. 11 and 12, it being necessary, in order to ob tain these connections, to place the controller in the position 0? and to throw the switch 37 into the position opposite that shown for starting conditions, such as those shown in Fig. 11, and then to throw the switch to the position shown for the running conditions, such as are shown in Fig. 12.

It will, of course, be understood, in connection with both Figs. 1 and 6, that in changing from position a to position b of the controller, the switches 19 and 22 should be so adjusted in position as to permit of effecting an increase of the speed of the motors when the controller occupies the position b.

lVhile I have shown and described suit able devices for controlling the circuits of the motors and the voltages supplied thereto, I do not limit myself to such specific means, since it is evident that many other suitable arrangements of the controlling devices may be employed and it is possible to combine all of the devices into a simple and compact piece of apparatus having one or more cont-roller drums for adjusting the connections of the circuits.

Other specific methods may be devised for connecting the armature and field magnet windings of motors in such relations as to alter the ratios of the ampere turns of those windings when changing from one character of energy to another or when effecting changes in the speed of operation, and I desire my invention to be construed broadly to cover all such methods, though they are not here specifically shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of operating electric motors having armature and field ma net windings which consists in connecting 516 field magnet windings for each of a plurality of lower speeds so that only a portion of the total current traverses each of the field magnet windings while the total current traverses all of the armature windings, and in next connecting the armature windings so that only a portion of the total current traverses each of them for each of a plurality of higher speeds.

2. The method of operating electric motors having armature and field magnet windings which consists in supplying alternating currents to the motors so that only a portion of the total amount of current traverses each of the field magnet windings, and the total amount traverses the armature windings for the lower speeds, then in supplying the current so that only a portion of the total amount traverses each of the armature windings for the higher speeds, and in supplying direct current to the motors so that the total amount of current traverses the field magnet and armature windings for the lower speeds and only a portion of the total amount traverses each of the windings for the higher speeds.

3. The method of operating electric Inotors which consists in first connecting the field magnet windings in series1 )arallel lation to each other and the armature windii'igs in series relation to each other for lower speeds, and next connecting the arn'iature windings in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds.

-l-. The method of operating electric motors having armature and field magnet windings which consists in controllably supplying alternating current to the field magnet windings connected in series-parallel relation to each other and to the armature windings in series for lower speeds, and to the arn'iature windings in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds, then in controllably supplying direct current to the motors in series for lower speeds and in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds.

5. The method of operating electric motors having armature and field magnet windings which consists in supplying alternating current to the field magnet windings in parallel and to the armature windings in series for lower speeds, then to the field magnet and armature windings in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds, and in controllably supplying direct current to the motors in series for lower speeds, then in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds.

6. The method of operating electric motors having series connected armature and field magnet windings which consists in connecting the field magnet windings in parallel and the armature windings in series relation to each other for lower speeds, and next connecting the armature windings in series-parallel relation to each other for hi her speeds.

The method of operating electric motors having armature and field magnet windings which consists in supplying alternating current to the field magnet windings in parallel and to the armature windings in series for lower speeds and then to the armature windings in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds, and in controllably supplying direct current to the motors in series for lower speeds and in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds.

8. The method of operating electric motors having armature and field magnet windings by means of either alternating or direct current which consists in connecting the field magnet windings in parallel and l the armature windings in series relation to each other for lower speeds, then the armature windings in series-parallel relation to each other for higher speeds on alternating current, connecting the field magnet windings in seriesparallel. and the armature windings in series relation to each other for lower speeds and the arn'iature windings in series parallel relation to each other for higher speeds on direct current.

9. The method of operating electric mo tors having armature and field magnet windings which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto and in cormecting the said windings in such relations to each other, when changing from one character of energy to the other, as to alter the ratio of the ampere turns of the field magnet windings to those of the armature windings.

10. The method oi operating electric ntors having arn'iature and field magnet Windings which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto and in comiecting the said windings in such relations to each other, when changing from one character of energy to the other, as to provide a greater ratio of field ampere turns to armature ampere turns when operatin by direct current than when operating by zdternating current.

11. The method of operating electric motors having armature and field magnet windings which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto, in connecting the said windings in such rel ations to each other, when changing from one character of energy to the other, as to alter the ratio of the ampere turns of the field magnet windings to those of the armature windings, and in connecting the said windings in such relations to each other, when changing from slow speed to high speed operating conditions, as to alter the ratio of field ampere turns to armature ampere turns.

12. The method of operating electric motors having armature and field magnet windings which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto, in connecting the said windings in such rela* tions to each other, when changing from one character of energy to the other, as to provide a greater ratio of field ampere turns to armature ampere turns when operating by direct current than when operating by alternating current, and in connecting the said windings in such relations to each other, when changing from slow speed to high speed operating conditions, as to provide a greater ratio of field ampere turns to armature ampere turn's when operating under slow speed conditions than when operating under high speed conditions.

13. The method of operating electric motors which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto, in connecting the motors in parallel or in series parallel relation to each other when operating by alternating current and in series relation to each other When operating by direct current.

14. The method of operating an electric motor having armature and field magnet windings Which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto, and in adjusting the ratio of the ampere turns in the field magnet Winding to those. in the armature Winding in accordance With the character of the energy supplied to the motors.

15. The method of operating an electric motor having armature and field magnet windings which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto, and in altering the ratio of the ampere turns in the field magnet Winding to those in the armature Winding When changing from one character of energy to the other.

16. The method of operating an electric motor having armature and field magnet windings Which consists in supplying either alternating or direct current energy thereto, and in increasing the ratio of the ampere turns in the field magnet Winding to those in the armature Winding when changing the character of the energy supplied to the motor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of April,

BENJ. G. LAMME. Witnesses E. M. STEWART, BIRNEY HINES. 

